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He added: “It’s the stigma of it that stops people from talking about it.

“Depression changes the way you think and feel about everything. So it’s hard to accept that the reason you’re thinking that way is because you’re ill rather than because things really are that way. It’s really complicated.”

Walliams is as busy as ever with BGT, writing children’s books such as bestseller The Boy in the Dress, and as co-founder of comedy production company King Bert Productions.

He is also a devoted father to four-year-old Alfred, his son with his ex-wife, model Lara Stone.

He has never gone public with the reasons for the end of his five-year marriage – but the one woman he does speak about is mum Kathleen, who is by his side at many public appearances.

He says: “Sadly my dad died 10 years ago so it’s nice to take her to things. She’s met incredible people. She’s met the Queen twice.”

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Walliams also told how a bid to get a loan from his local bank while starting out with comedy partner Matt Lucas had inspired one of their best-known catchphrases.

He and Matt met at the National Youth Theatre and started putting on shows in 1995 before making Little Britain as a Radio 4 show in 2000 before it moved to TV.

He says: “After the first series, being the BBC you didn’t get paid a lot of money – so I had to go to the bank to try and get a loan.

Star's book The Boy in the Dress

“I was brought into this little room with a woman and a computer. And she said ‘Ooohhh, how much do you want to borrow? Five thousand pounds, OK I’ve put the details into the computer, lets see what is says.

“We sat there in silence for a few seconds – and then she went: ‘Computer says yes!’.

“Anyway it amused me and I went back to Matt and so it became this morose woman who enjoyed saying: ‘Computer says no.’”

John Bishop: In Conversation With David Walliams, will air on the W channel tonight at 9pm and is the first of a 10-part series.